op atlantic city



May 26, 1931. M. ALLAND 1,806,730

ITHIIBLE,

Filed Jan. 20, 1930 gin 1. m

Maurice Allancl,

Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES MAURICE ALLAND, OF ATLANTIC CITY,NEW JERSEY THIMZBLE Application filed January 20, 1930. Serial No.421,960.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements in sewingthimbles, both for domestic use and for the professional trade, in eachcase the thimble being intended to 6 utilize the additional function ofpicking up needles, pins, and similar magnetizable articles.

Another and more specific object is to provide a domestic orprofessionals thimble 10 with an annular ring about its normal free endportion, said ring being so related to the thimble that it does notinterfere with the function of the latter, yet forms a flange whichoperates to prevent a needle in contact with a side of the thimble fromslipping from or across the end of the latter, and at the same timecomprises an outer surface adapted for use in smoothing darned or mendedsurfaces of fabric.

A further object is to provide the combination of a thimble with anannular ring, having transverse cuts in the diametrically oppositeportions of its outer plane surface, to define the limits of itsmagnetized poles.

With these and other objects in mind, the present invention comprisesfurther details of construction and operation, which are fully broughtout in the following description, when read in conjunction with the ac-30 companying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of aprofessionals thimble embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a verticaldiametrical section of the same; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same;and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a domestic thimble also embodyingthe invention.

Referring to Figs. l to 3 inclusive, the usual slightly conical thimblemember 5 is provided upon its outer surface with closely adjacentrecesses or cavities 6 for engagement with the butt end of a needle (notshown) in the usual course of sewing or stitching, said member at oneend being provided with an outwardly and reversely curved stiffenedflange 7, while its opposite end 8 is open and is surrounded exteriorlyby a plain cylindrical surface 9, upon which is secured by any suitablemeans the corresponding inner surface 10 of a cylindrical member 11,prefer- 50 ably formed of steel or other magnetizable metal. This member11 is provided at its free end portion with a radially inwardly directedflange 12, which serves to arrest the movement of the ring with respectto the thimble proper, when the former is being driven upon the end ofthe latter, the flange also serving to protect the free edge portion ofthe thimble.

It will be noted that the outer plane surface 13 of the ring 11 is cutby diametrically extending saw-cuts, grooves, or other suitablemeans 14for separating the opposed portions of said ring and thereby definingthe limits of its magnetic poles, it being possible, and in casesdesirable, to fill in the saw-cuts 14orthe like with a suitablenon-magnetizable metal, such as copper, brass, or the like, in order toeliminate the interruption of the continuity of the ring surface 13.

Referring to Fig. 4, a domestic thimble of any well-known shape isillustrated as comprising conical side walls 15, terminating at the basein a reinforcing flange 16, and closed by an end wall 17, said side andend walls being provided with recesses for receiving the butt ends ofneedles, as hereinbefore re ferred to, during the usual course ofsewing, stitching, and the like. In this form of the device, there isdriven upon the closed end portion of the thimble and secured thereto inany suitable manner, an annular ring 18 of steel or other magnetizablemetal, provided with transverse saw-cuts 19, corresponding to the cutsor recesses 14 shown in Figs 1 to 3 inclusive.

With each of these types of thimbles as here described and asillustrated in the drawings, those portions of the rings 11 and 18 uponthe opposite sides of the respective sawcuts 14 and 19 are characterizedas comprising magnetic poles of opposite polarity, so that an operatorhaving one of these improved thimbles upon his finger, need simplyinvert the thimble in contact with a needle, or a similar lightmagnetizable article, and upon raising the thimble, said article will befound to have adhered to the magnetic ring in any one of an infinitenumber of directions crossing the lines of the respective saw-cuts.However, as the strength of the magnetic ring in each case is onlysufficient to lift relatively small articles, as above stated, it offersbut slight resistance to the manual removal of such articles from thethimble ring after it has been raised from the table or other surfaceupon which the article formerly rested.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A sewing thimble, incombination with an annular ring of magnetizable metal secured theretoand provided with transversely extending reduced portions to define thelimits of its magnetic poles.

2. A sewing thimble, having a substantially cylindrical end portion, andan annular ring of magnetizable metal secured upon said end portion,said ring being of less axial extent in diametrically opposite portions,to define the limits of its magnetic poles.

3. A sewing thimble, having a substantially cylindrical end portion, andan annular ring of magnetizable metal secured upon said end portion andcomprising a radially inwardly extending flange, diametrically oppositeportions of said ring being partially severed transversely by means ofsaw-cuts, to define the limits of its magnetic poles.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

MAURICE ALLAND.

